title: Common sulfoglycolipid receptor for mycoplasmas involved in animal and human infertility.
abstract: Sulfoglycolipids are ubiquitous components of the male germ cell membrane. Sulfogalactoglycerolipid (SGG) is restricted to mammalian cells and has recently been implicated in sperm/egg interactions. Mycoplasma infections have been implicated in infertility in a variety of species, including humans. Four such species-specific mycoplasmas, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis (humans), Mycoplasma pulmonis (rodents), and Ureaplasma diversum (cattle) are not shown to specifically recognize SGG and the sphingolipid counterpart, sulfogalactosyl ceramide. This glycolipid receptor binding may relate to the reproductive pathogenesis of these organisms.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lingwood
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilansky
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nutikka
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ruhnke
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005260:Female; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D006017:Glycolipids; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C033639:glycolipid receptor; C011117:sulfoglycolipids